Restoring the faithful? These signs suggest 49er fans believe again

49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is getting much of the credit for renewed interest in the San Francisco 49ers this season.

49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is getting much of the credit for renewed interest in the San Francisco 49ers this season.

Photo: John Hefti / John Hefti / Associated Press

Photo: John Hefti / John Hefti / Associated Press

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49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is getting much of the credit for renewed interest in the San Francisco 49ers this season.

49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is getting much of the credit for renewed interest in the San Francisco 49ers this season.

Photo: John Hefti / John Hefti / Associated Press

Restoring the faithful? These signs suggest 49er fans believe again

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49ers season tickets have been in the Walker family since the 1960's, back when the team played at Kezar stadium. They've seen all three stadiums, all five Super Bowl teams, and all three "the catches."

Since Levi's Stadium opened in 2014, 35-year-old Charles Walker and his 68-year-old father have yet to miss a single regular season game.

"I've seen the fights in parking lots and stands and braved the heat and the rain," Charles Walker told SFGATE. "Definition of 49er Faithful to the core."

But in recent years the team has done little to reward the loyalty of the Walkers and the thousands of other season ticket holders, as happy moments at Levi's have been far and few between.

The 49ers have a paltry 12-20 record at games at Levi's Stadium, and have won back-to-back home games in a season just one time since October 2014.

Anyone want to guess when that was?

Last December, the 49ers, led by new quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, upset the Titans and Jaguars in consecutive weeks at Levi's Stadium.

Now in 2018, expectations for the 49ers are the highest they've been since Jim Harbaugh's final year with the team.

Four Sports Illustrated writers predict that the 49ers will make the playoffs this year. The Chronicle's Ann Killion, never one to mince words when it comes to the 49ers, wrote, "could there be a winning season at Levi's? It actually might be possible."

But is a better team on the field actually making people more excited for 49ers football in 2018?

A source with the team said that there are several metrics that show "increased optimism" among fans in 2018.

The team says social media engagements have increased by 75 percent compared to this time last year, and the average time spent on team's official website was up 71 percent for the month of July.

In addition, the 49ers' preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys drew a 9.7 rating, the highest rating for a 49ers preseason opener since 2013, the year after they lost the Super Bowl.

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Charles Walker is convinced.

"The buzz and excitement is real, and after how last season ended how could it not be?" Walker said. "Levi's Stadium might finally have a team on the field that makes it feel like a home, with a 12th man right along side for the ride."

Fellow season ticket holder Bo Kastelic is also buying in.

"The new coach and new QB are giving the team more life," Kastelic said. "When Garoppolo came on board last season, there was a different feeling in the stands - the team seemed to carry themselves differently. It's like they know they have a leader who might be able to bring things together again."

How much do you know about the quarterback 49ers fans hope will became the face of the franchise? Click through the following slides to learn more about Jimmy Garoppolo's life off the field.

How much do you know about the quarterback 49ers fans hope will became the face of the franchise? Click through the following slides to learn more about Jimmy Garoppolo's life off the field.

Photo: Getty/SFGATE

Photo: Getty/SFGATE

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How much do you know about the quarterback 49ers fans hope will became the face of the franchise? Click through the following slides to learn more about Jimmy Garoppolo's life off the field.

How much do you know about the quarterback 49ers fans hope will became the face of the franchise? Click through the following slides to learn more about Jimmy Garoppolo's life off the field.

Photo: Getty/SFGATE

Who is the real Jimmy Garoppolo?

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But what about people who aren't season ticket holders?

Online ticket exchange StubHub has a number of metrics that indicate individual 49ers games are in demand again.

The team jumped thirteen spots on the website's "most in-demand team list," and are now currently the NFL's sixth-most in-demand team. (Only the Cowboys, Packers, Eagles, Patriots and Steelers rank above them.)

The 49ers have also experienced the second-largest growth in overall demand compared to last season, with only the Jaguars rising more.

In addition, the team's Week 9 tilt against the Oakland Raiders is StubHub's eighth-most in-demand game of the entire season.

So yes, the data suggests that people do care more about 49ers football this year.

As for what's fueling that interest?

It isn't just Jimmy Garoppolo, according to team officials.

A 49ers representative said the franchise has actually been seeing an uptick in fan interest since early 2017, back when head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch were first hired.

Season ticket holders have favorable views of Shanahan and Lynch, and are happy that owner Jed York appears to be taking a less hands-on approach to running the team, according to the fans we talked to.

"Increasingly happy with the direction the team is going, hiring Shanahan and Lynch," season ticket holder Zain Khan said. "Jed is staying out of the press and Twitter, Shanahan's offense is dynamic and you look for something exciting to happen on every drive."

The Richard Sherman signing is also something that's been well-received by fans.

"As much as I hated Sherman when he was with Seattle, I love him with the Niners," Khan said. "The team is younger, faster and better coached overall, all reasons to be excited and optimistic for eight to nine, maybe 10 wins?"

Even with the increased optimism however, Kastelic and Khan and still have some reservations.

"There's a feeling of 'been there, done that,'" Kastelic said. "We've had talented coaching staffs, we've had skilled players, but things haven't come together. It's been difficult to get behind the (lack of) strategy and leadership from Jed York. I'm hopeful that Lynch and Shanahan will have more say in staffing and planning decisions."

Khan focused his criticism towards Levi's Stadium itself.

"I'm hoping the fans show more excitement than previous seasons," Khan said. "The atmosphere is terrible; lack of fans in the seats is concerning but understandable given the poor seasons."

It's no secret that fans are baking at Levi's Stadium. What can the team do to fix it? SFGATE readers have a few ideas...

It's no secret that fans are baking at Levi's Stadium. What can the team do to fix it? SFGATE readers have a few ideas...

Photo: Peter Hartlaub / The Chronicle

Photo: Peter Hartlaub / The Chronicle

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It's no secret that fans are baking at Levi's Stadium. What can the team do to fix it? SFGATE readers have a few ideas...

It's no secret that fans are baking at Levi's Stadium. What can the team do to fix it? SFGATE readers have a few ideas...

Photo: Peter Hartlaub / The Chronicle

How Levi's Stadium can alleviate its heat issues

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Khan also discussed one of the most common complaints against Levi's Stadium: The lack of shade.

"The lack of shade in the seats across from us is a huge problem," Khan said. "Friends I have who bought seats there are trying to sell their seats and their SBL licenses if they can but they cannot. They won't attend games to sit in the heat and if they do attend they will stay in the club or the concourse areas."